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For the second time, Tanzania took the title of Best Safari Country in Africa by a panel of experts and over 2,500 other reviewers.

The panel included over 950 expert reviewers and 22 renowned guidebook authors from Frommer’s, Rough Guides, Lonely Planet and other publications. This is important because guidebook authors and expert reviewers are very well traveled. Whereas other reviewers may be first-time safari-goers, the experts bring strong comparative knowledge to the table. They can tell you with certainty that one country is better than another for wildlife viewing, scenic beauty, or whatever means the most to you.

From that standpoint Lonely Planet travel writer Tim Brewer, who has written guidebooks for 10 African countries, is a particularly credible reviewer.

“Tanzania is home to Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater; and this fact alone makes a solid case for declaring it Africa’s best safari country,” Brewer writes in his review. “And when you consider all the other options available to mix up your African experience – scuba diving and beach bumming on Zanzibar; mingling with proud traditional tribes like the Maasai, Barabaig and Sandawe; and climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, to name a few – it becomes clear why it doesn’t get any better than Tanzania.”

Tanzania is the African Wildlife Gold Standard

Dozens of countries across the world can claim titles for natural beauty, but reviewers agree Tanzania is in a league of its own for African wildlife viewing.

Is elephant-watching your main goal? Tarangire National Park has one of the densest elephant populations on the continent.

What about the Serengeti migration, with over 2 million roaming wildebeest and zebras? Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park makes up 85% of the migration cycle.

Are lions your main goal? Tanzania is home to more lions than Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia combined.

The fact is, a huge proportion of safari travelers expect elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, giraffes and all the other creatures that make wildlife viewing famous in Africa. From big cats to the Big Five, experts believe Tanzania is the most reliable area to do that.

The Only Drawback: Too Much to do

Perhaps the most telling piece of Tanzania’s full travel guide review: The only negative quality on its pros and cons list is that there are “too many highlights to fit in one safari.” We couldn’t agree more!

In fact, we put together a list of 35 Reasons to Travel to Tanzania as part of our own “digital safari” experience on our 35th anniversary. Check it out if you need any more convincing!

When people think of the Great Migration, they often envision an enormous herd of wildebeest risking their lives in the iconic river crossings. It’s an image most animal lovers have seen captured in their favorite nature documentaries, and it’s what inspires many travelers to ask our consultants when to go on safari in Tanzania. However, those river crossings are just one part of the Great Migration.

In fact, the Great Migration is an endless movement of millions of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles searching for food and mating partners. It happens all year long, all over Tanzania.

Thomson Safaris guests never have to worry about “missing” the migration, since our team places guests in safari accommodations located right in the middle of the action. You’ll see different stages of the Great Migration depending on when you go:

January – March

During the height of the green season, nearly half a million animals give birth to wobbly calves. Within hours, these babies are able to follow the herds on their own, but they’re still vulnerable to predators.

April – June

“April showers” take on a much different meaning in the Serengeti. Heavy rains occur all month long, causing the herds and their calves to migrate up north. After the bounty of the green season, wildebeest are healthy – and attractive. That’s when the annual rut, a mass breeding event on the Serengeti’s southern plains, takes place. It’s also when the males are especially territorial.

July – September

As the grasses get drier and the food and water supply diminishes, the group heads north. Dramatic crossings through the Mara and Grumeti Rivers occur in the months when the herds’ hunger outstrips their fear of the dangerous, croc-infested waters.

October – December

If you cross once, you have to cross again! The herds make another go of the perilous river crossing back toward the southern plains, and it’s all worth it when they experience some relief from the 6-month long drought. Short rains and greener grasses lure the herds back to the southern Serengeti, and the plentiful food and water supply is much appreciated – especially among the females, who are in the late stages of pregnancy in these months. They make their way to the southernmost point of their journey to give birth, and the cycle starts all over again.

No matter when you go on safari in Tanzania, you’ll witness some of the best wildlife viewing in the world. View our dates and prices page and start planning your safari today!

Acclaimed photographer Toby Gelston is back with another riveting clip from his recent Tanzanian safari. This time, he documents a wildlife viewing drive in the northern Serengeti, where he spots cheetah, African buffalo, and countless lions and wildebeest.

Nature lovers will especially want to tune in to the live action takedown of a wildebeest crossing the Nile River around the 10-minute mark, though it’s not for the faint-hearted. As Gelston notes in the video, the scene is not gruesome, but it is intense. After all, there’s a reason why it’s referred to as “the wild!”

Watch the second installment of Gelston’s safari experience to see the northern Serengeti through the eyes of a skilled photographer, and learn some helpful camera techniques in the process.

Compared to other East African safari destinations, Tanzania is an obvious choice; countries like Kenya offer a similar, wildlife-focused experience, but due to years of active tourism campaigns and less far-sighted conservation policies, are packed with many more tourists and far fewer animals.

But why not choose a totally different destination? How would Tanzania stack up against, say, South Africa?

Both countries are beautiful, but the safari experience in Tanzania vs South Africa safaris is very different. Here’s why:

Tanzania has the highest wildlife concentrations on the continent

If you’re interested in wine or shark dives, South Africa may be the best choice, but if you’re heading out on safari for the wildlife, there’s no contest: Tanzania is the place to go.

Not only is nearly a third of Tanzania’s land protected (32.2% to be exact, many times more than in South Africa, where just 6.2% of the land is set aside in protected areas, according to World Bank data), it has been protected for decades.

This foresight has led to more robust populations of almost every major safari species. Tanzania has more cheetahs, more and larger groups of elephants, larger populations of rare species like wild dog, and 7 ½ times as many lions as South Africa (South Africa’s total lion population is around 2,100 animals; in the Serengeti alone, Tanzania boasts around 3,000 lions). Dozens of parks around the country mean that, no matter what you’re interested in seeing, you have a good chance of tracking it down in Tanzania.

Photo: Judi Wineland

You have a good chance of spotting the Big Five in Tanzania

Better wildlife management means that Tanzania also boasts sustainable populations of all of the Big Five species (lion, leopard, African buffalo, elephant, and black rhinoceros), considered must-see creatures for safari-goers.

Best of all, it has one of the only sites on earth where you might even manage to see them all in just one day: the Ngorongoro Crater.

Photo: Thomson Safaris guest, Len Kurzweil

The Great Migration is only in East Africa

For many people, this is the iconic image of safari: hundreds and thousands of grazing animals thundering across the plains, crossing rivers to avoid predators, or giving birth to thousands of newborns as part of the ongoing circle of life.

This event takes place exclusively in East Africa; in fact, 80% of the migration takes place in Tanzania, specifically in the Serengeti (the other 20% of the time, the herds move into southern Kenya’s Maasai Mara).

If the Great Migration is on your safari wish-list, Tanzania is the place to choose.

Photo: Thomson Safaris guest, Patti Sandoval

Tanzania is temperate year round; South Africa is seasonal

Tanzania is an equatorial country, which means there are only small seasonal variations. Barring November and April, when the rains are heavy, you can expect warm, pleasant days year round. Tanzanian “winter,” from June to September, is slightly cooler and drier, while “summer,” from December through March, is greener and a bit more humid…but that’s about it; temperatures are mostly in the 70s and 80s year-round. Whenever you go is therefore a good time for safari, and animals will be out in full force.

South Africa has a much more seasonal climate, with warm sunny days from November through February or March, and temperatures that can dip below freezing from June through August (especially in the interior of the country, where safari sites are located).

This means that from May to late September, South Africa may be charming to visit, but would not be a good location for safari.

In both Tanzania and South Africa, safari-goers can find a full range of accommodation options, from rugged adventure camping to extremely luxurious properties like the Four Seasons.

As a rule, however, South African safari accommodations revolve around a more western-oriented luxury hotel experience, while East African safaris are better at recreating the feel of a traditional tented safari (with significant modern updates for comfort). You can absolutely plan a luxury safari in Tanzania, but it’s easier to find an authentic safari experience there than in South Africa.

This focus means South African safari accommodations are more expensive as a rule (even when they’re less than ultra-luxury).

Photo: Thomson Safaris guests, Juliet & Steve Hochman

Consider what you want to do next

Many people decide to extend their visit to Africa post-safari; how you choose to do so may help you decide which country best suits your needs.

For a cosmopolitan city visit or vineyard tours, South Africa is a great choice. The country is far more urban than Tanzania overall.

For a relaxing beach visit or spice-island tour of Zanzibar, chimp-tracking, or gorilla-trekking, however, Tanzania is the better choice.

You CAN try to mix and match…but the countries are several hours apart by plane, so if you want to get the most out of your time in Africa, it’s smartest to commit to the region that makes the most sense from beginning to end!

It’s been called a Natural Wonder of the modern world, immortalized by dozens of nature shows (and one well-known Disney movie), and it consistently tops safari-goers’ lists of “must-see” events during their trips: it’s the Great Migration of the wildebeest (and zebras).

But there’s more to this cycle than most travelers know; the continuous movement of millions of grazers through the plains of the Serengeti is driven by a multitude of factors, any one of which can stall (or jump-start) the process in unpredictable ways.

For wildebeest, the start of the new year means new life: all across the plains of the southern Serengeti, millions of animals start calving (depending on a host of other factors, calving can occur anytime between January and March).

By the time the calving is over, right around 500,000 wobbly newborns will join the herds (just thank your lucky stars you didn’t have to deal with all the baby showers). Luckily, their home turf in the south is relatively flat, with wide-open vistas in most every direction, a fact that greatly increases their odds of survival (the herd, on high alert because of the babies, can more easily spot predators and gather in large groups, a time-honored defense tactic).

Wildebeest as far as the eye can see!Photo taken by Thomson Safaris guest, Chris Donovan

In the Serengeti, as in song, April showers bring May flowers…or at least spring grasses. Heavy rains bring the Serengeti to lush, green life and start the river systems flowing. Well-fed wildebeest are able to produce gallons of nutritious milk for their young, who grow quickly.

Of course if those rains come early, the cycle might move on to its next stage more quickly; if they come late, the wildebeest may linger longer over their month-long meals. The herd’s schedule at this time, and throughout the cycle, is heavily dependent on the weather.

Unfortunately for the ladies, wildebeest fellas like their females with a little meat on their bones…and they like them a lot. After just a month of indulgence, the bulls become restless, chasing each other—and most all the adult females—around in order to assert their right to rut (the eminently charming name given to the wildebeest’s annual mating).

Wildebeest bulls sparPhoto: Andy Biggs

Which means that by the time your average maternity leave ends, female wildebeest are pregnant again, for the next 8-9 months. There are downsides to being so attractive, no?

Throughout the summer, the herds spread out on their way north (love ‘em and leave ‘em seems to be a wildebeest motto), converging on the Mara river system in the northern Serengeti as the lands become drier, and food sources grow ever more scarce.

By September, months of heat and dieting have left the wildebeest herds on edge (would YOU want to be stuck with that many underfed pregnant women?). Hunger and boredom (or, you know, instinct) sets them on edge. Occasionally a crazed rebel will decide he can’t TAKE IT ANYMORE and starts sprinting across the river.

Their impulse control withered by hunger, anywhere from a handful of wildebeest to hundreds follow the nonconformist across.

Great Migration river crossingPhoto taken by Thomson Safaris guest, Patti Sandoval

…Then back. Then across again. In fact, until the light rains get going in November (enough so that water pools have filled significantly; wildebeest’s sensitive palates can’t tolerate plebeian PH levels), drawing them back to the south, they might criss-cross the river several times a day (perhaps just to break up the monotony), or they may not cross for several days on end (we are held in the grip of l’ennui). These small-group crossings (because with a total herd size around 2 million, even 1000 animals crossing is a drop in the bucket) can occur at any given point along the massive Mara river system. Because of this, they’re not only unpredictable (who knows when a wildebeest might just…SNAP), it’s rare to catch them.

But once the rain falls, grazing and alternative water sources allow the wildebeest to finally get a little change of scenery with a nice trip down South.

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is, when is the best time to see the Great Migration? Since the giant herds consisting of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle are constantly on the move in a year-round circuit, there really isn’t one definitive answer.

The migration is driven by rainfall patterns and the subsequent grazing potential on the nutrient-rich green grasses it produces. Each month of this circuit offers visitors a look at one of the unique and dynamic facets of the migration, whether it is calving season, the rut, or river crossings – there is always something interesting to see!

Read on as our safari consultants, Bryan, Emily and Andrew reveal their perspectives on the migration and share their experiences, photos and favorite times of the year to witness what has been called Nature’s Greatest Show on Earth.

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Bryan Rotundo
Favorite time to see the migration: January-March

Although the dry season river crossings have been well documented on many nature films and are touted as being the highlight of the migration, I much prefer seeing the herds together in the largest groups during the calving season from January through March. During this time, the wildebeest are clearly in a “safety in numbers” mode as they birth their babies and graze on the grasses of the southern Serengeti. As they follow the light rains, about 2 million wildebeest move together in herds with almost 200,000 zebras mixed in. The first time I witnessed this, it was like the animals had melted together in a sea of brown – it took a minute for my brain to fully process the amount of animals I was actually looking at! The most amazing part is that they can sense where the rains are falling and seem to move in a hypnotic trance in that direction. This is an ideal time for predators too and the potential for action is high. Spring in the Serengeti was a definite highlight for me and, I think, a great time for safari travelers to visit Tanzania.

Click to enlarge Bryan’s photos

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–Emily Martin
Favorite time to see the migration: May-June

I find it extremely difficult to pick a favorite time of year to see the migration, but I do love visiting the Serengeti in May and June as the migration makes its way to the western corridor through the central Serengeti and collides with the big cat populations that reside in this region year round. The opportunity for a big cat kill is at its peak during this time. The best part is that our central Serengeti camp is right in the heart of this area. During my Signature Safari in May, I had the opportunity to stay in this camp; the proximity to the wildlife and the Great Migration was incredible. We would drive a mere mile away from camp and the wildebeest and zebras were everywhere!

May and June is also a time of year known as the rut when the wildebeest mate. To add to the drama of this period, males try to attract the attention of the females with various displays of aggressive behavior. Guests often capture incredible photos of male wildebeest sparing and fighting to win the affection of the nearby females. Some of my best photos of the migration were a result of the many drawn out fights that took place.

I wouldn’t hesitate to travel back to Tanzania in May again to experience the rut, the mega-herds, and of course, all of the amazing permanent wildlife that resides in the Serengeti year round!

Click to enlarge Emily’s photos

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Andrew Doherty
Favorite time to see the migration: November

I was on my most recent safari back in November and had an unbelievable time with my guide Casmir. Many folks will read that November is a month when the “short rains” return to Tanzania and so they will opt not to visit at this time. Well, they are missing out! November is an absolutely gorgeous time to be on safari. If anything, the little bit of rain I encountered added to the experience. After all, water is life in the Serengeti!

November is one of the only months on the calendar when travelers can enjoy both dry season and green season wildlife viewing on the same trip. The predators are active, the herds are vast and you (and the wildebeest) will also enjoy the first green grasses and wildflowers of the season. I was lucky to catch the migration in both the northern and central Serengeti at this time of year. So, if you are considering a safari to Tanzania and you are available to make the trip in November, go for it. You’ll enjoy unbelievable scenery and wildlife viewing and you’ll have most of the bush all to yourself. (Flight prices are also at their lowest in November!!)

I always say that anytime is the best time when you travel with a company like Thomson Safaris who makes it a priority to always use seasonal camps. Whether you go in the summer or fall when we bring guests to our camp in the northern Serengeti to catch the migration during the peak of the dry season, or the winter and spring when our guests have the opportunity to see the migration in the Southern plains, our guests will have the opportunity to see all of the great facets of the migration because we make sure they have the best access to it all.

Thomson Safaris

Founded in 1981 and based in Watertown Massachusetts, Thomson Safaris has been handcrafting trips-of-a-lifetime for over 35 years. Tanzania is our only destination, and has truly become our second home. We’re excited to be able to share it with you through stories and features on our blog.